Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke is seemingly edging closer to moving to Tottenham Hotspur.
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Spurs have reportedly reached an agreement with Brighton and Hove Albion.
Transfer journalist David Ornstein reported – on Tuesday evening (June 16) – that the North London club will pay a fee of £52m, with no add-ons. The Netherlands international is currently at the World Cup, and is thought to have already given the green light.
Ornstein, of The Athletic, added that Brighton’s pursuit of Spurs defender Luka Vuskovic, was a separate matter and that a second offer worth £35m had been rejected.
The Croatian centre-back is regarded as one of Europe's most promising young defenders – and is attracting interest from some of the continent's biggest clubs. The 19-year-old spent this season on loan at Hamburg in the Bundesliga.
Ornstein previously reported that Brighton submitted a £30m bid for Vuskovic – and that the player favours a move to the Amex Stadium as the best step for his development.
Another transfer specialist, Fabrizio Romano, subsequently reported that a deal had been agreed for Van Hecke – posting his trademark ‘here we go’ confirmation on social media.
Romano wrote: "New defender wanted by [Roberto] De Zerbi joining on £52m deal, agreement club to club done after player accepted Tottenham conditions last week."
Neither Brighton nor Tottenham had officially announced the transfer at the time of writing.
Brighton chief executive Paul Barber told TalkSport that the club have turned down approaches from Spurs, while acknowledging there is widespread interest in the 26-year-old.
"There’s always going to be a lot of interest in our best players," Barber said.
"Certainly in the case of Jan Paul, again, we've been very clear that that interest has been ongoing for a while. It's coming from multiple sources.
"But yes, we have rejected a bid from Tottenham over the last week or so. And in fact, two bids."
Barber also reiterated Brighton's long-standing policy of allowing players to move on when the conditions are right for all parties.
"It is part of the model. We don't make any secret of that," he said.
"We are very clear, not only with our coaches when they come in, but also the players themselves. Players know that if they do well, they progress and bigger opportunities come for them.
"Provided it's right for us as well as for them, and the price is obviously right, then we are prepared to trade."
Brighton were determined to secure a deal that reflected Van Hecke's value and ensured that head coach Fabian Hurzeler has the strongest possible squad available.
"It has to be right for us as well as for the player," Barber added. "We have to be in a position to make the best trades to suit our model."
Sam Wallace, of The Telegraph, had suggested Tottenham faced significant competition for Van Hecke's signature, with both Liverpool and Chelsea also monitoring the Netherlands international.
However, it was reported that Spurs believe De Zerbi's close relationship with the player proved a decisive factor.
Van Hecke flourished under De Zerbi at Brighton and remained one of the first names on the teamsheet under Fabian Hurzeler.
Having broken into the side during the 2023-24 campaign, when Albion competed in the Europa League, he has since established himself as one of the Premier League's most consistent defenders. He has missed just six league matches across the past two seasons.
The defender turned 26 last week and enters the final year of his contract at the Amex Stadium.